Sazophone halter



July 24, 1951 N. c. BATES SAXOPHONE HALTER Filed Sept. 6, 1946' thereby changing its length.

of Figure 1.

Patented July 24, 1951 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE SAXOPHONE HALTER Norman 0. Bates, Rockville Centre, N. Y. Application September 6, 1946, SerialN0. 695,130

8 Claims. I

This invention relates to a saxophone halter, and more particularly to means for selectively adjusting the length of a saxophone halter or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a saxophone halter or the like which is adapted to be worn about the back of the neck of a user in an operative position and means for selectively adjusting the length thereof at the will of the wearer without removing the halter or instrument.

Another object of this invention is to provide a saxophone halter or the like having a. neck band, a flexible beaded cord or beaded metal chain, and a resilient clip engaging the cord and carrying the looped end thereof for adjusting the length of the cord.

Another object of this invention is to provide on a looped beaded cord 3, spring-pressed clip loosely carrying a looped section of the cord and clamping between the jaws of the clip other sections of the cord whereby the total length of the looped cord may be adjusted by varyin the location of the clip on the cord.

Another object of this invention is to provide on a looped beaded cord a resilient clip having clamping jaws through which the beaded cord may be trained, the clip being adapted, in the normal position thereof, to clamp the: cord between the jaws, the jaws engaging the cord. between adjacent beads to prevent the cord from Slipping, the clip being so constructed that the jaws may be pressed inwardly toward each other by the fingers of a wearer for disengaging the jaws from the cord whereby the clip may be moved to another selected position on the cord To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as willbe more specifically referred to and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of themvention as claimed.

In the drawings: i Figure 1 is a front elevation of a saxophone halter embodyiny an adjustable cord and clip constructed according to an embodiment ofjmy invention. w a) Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation. I 5

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a modified form of beaded cord which may be used, and

Figure 7 is a second modified form of beaded cord or chain.

Referring to the drawings the numeral I0 designates generally a saxophone halter havin a flat neck strap II and a beaded cord [2 which is adapted to be hung in front of a wearer by engaging about the back of his neck for supporting a saxophone or other similar instrument. The strap l l is formed of an elongated flat piece of fabric or flexible plastic or other suitable material and is adapted to engage about the neck of the wearer.

An elongated cord I2 is swivelably fastened at its ends to the ends of the strap II by suitable connectors I4 fixed to the ends of the strap II. The cord I2 is formed of a series of beads l5 swivelably connected to an adjacent bead by a short length of wire l6 thereby forming a. flexible beaded cord l2. The connectors M are formed with a cup shaped body in which the end bead l5 may be enclosed with the length of wire I6 to which the bead I5 is connected loosely extending from the body l4 through an opening or slot in the body Id. The cord I2 and strap II, when connected at their ends form a closed loop of a fixed length.

Since the persons who use such a halter or supporting means are of various sizes, and as each prefers the instrument to be supported at a certain distance, it is desirable to provide a means for precisely adjustin the length of the halter ID to that desired by the individual wearer. Many such devices have been used heretofore. Most of these adjusting means require the removal of the halter In either from the wearer or the instrument or both for suitably changing the length thereof. The most'desirable arrangement would be one where the adjustment might readily be made by the wearer with one hand without removing the halter M from about his neck and without removin the instrument from the halter. The adjusting clip ll of my invention provides such a desirable construction and arrangement.

The adjusting clip IT is formed of an elongated fiat strip of spring metal which is bent upon itself midway the length thereof to form a substantially V shaped body, the apex: of the 1 body being arcuate to provide a substantial Width 3 to the body at this point. The body of the clip I! is formed then of a pair of obtusely related flat outwardly inclined arms I8. The apex of the body is formed with a pair of laterally disposed adjacent openings l9 therethrough 5 through which the beaded cord may readily be trained. Inwardly extending flanges or jaws 20 are formed on or fixed to the upper divergent ends of the arms l8 and are pressed inwardly toward each other, and one of the flanges or jaw 10 members overlies the other. Each of'th'e jaw members 20 is formed with a pair of laterally disposed openings or holes 2| so related that the: openings of one jaw 20 will register withwthew openings 21 of the other jaw member 20 and 16 the registered openings 2| are aligned withthe Openings I9 when the arms l8 are=pressed in.- wardly to the open position of the clip IT. The" beaded cord [2 may readily pass through.:the; openings 2! in their aligned position, and when 20 the arms II! are free to return to'theirnormal spring urged divergent position the jaws 20 clamp the wire I6 therebetween with adjacent beads l5 above and below the'jaws 20 so'the'cord l2 may not slide through the openings.

On the forward or outer side of one arm 18 there is fixed a semicircular fiat housing 22. The

housing 22 is formed of an arcuate side wall 24 perpendicular to the arm l8, and a semicircular outer wall 25 fixed to the outer edge of the'side 24. Thelower end of the housin 22 isopen sothe cord l2 may be trained therethrough. A rivet 26 extends through the housing 22 at a point which is substantially the radius of the housing 22 and an arcuate plate 21 is fixed to the inner side of the wa1l25, the edges of the plate 21 being spaced inwardly-from the arcuate side wall 24 for providing an annular groove inside the body 22about the pin 26. The cord 12 is adapted to slide readily in the groove of the housing 22 at all times.

In the use of this adjusting clip H, the cord l2, having one end free of the strap l I is threaded or trained downwardly through one of the aligned openings 2| and [9, through the, ferrule 28 of a hook 29, upwardly and through the'housing '22 when it is again trained downwardly through the ferrule 28 again, upwardly through the other aligned openings 19 and 2| and'the end of the cordis then fixed'to the free end of the-strap ll.

In the normal clamped position of the clip I! 5 certain short sections of wire I6 are clamped between the jaws 20 with certain-adjacentbeads l5 above and below the restricted openings through the jaws 20 together, which may be readily done by two fingers of one hand ofan operator, whereupon the openings 2i are moved into registryand the clip may be moved upwardly or downwardl on the cord as desired.

From this assembly it is seen that there are four stretches of cord l2 below the clamp I! for 'suporting the instrument on the hook 29. Also. it can be seen that irrespective of the length: of thestretches of cord 12 above the clip l-l all four stretches below the clip will be taut whenthe weight of the instrument is suspended "from the hook, since the cord I2 is free to slide-in the housing 22 to equalize the stretches :below the clip In Figure 6 there is shown a modified form of beaded cord which may be used with this clamp.= The cord 39 may be formed with spaced: apart beads 3| clamped'thereon to provide a 'cordrwith spaced apart beadssimilar to the cord illustratedrln Figures'lto 5'. I e

In Figure 7 thereis shown aichaimfll having 75 4 right angularly related links 4|, which will serve equally as well as the beaded cords described above.

The term cord is intended to be used in its generic sense to include a string or metal chain or other similar flexible members.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling withinthe purview of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

"1. A sliding clip for adjusting the length of a looped flexible member having a beaded cord comprising a resilient V-shaped body having divergentarms extending from the apex thereof, saidapex formed with at least one opening therethrough, inwardly extending jaws on the free divergent ends of said arms, one of said jaws being adapted to overlie the other jaw in the open position of said clip, said jaws being formed with openings for alignment in the open position'of said clip, a downwardly opening housing on one of said arms having a downwardly opening annular groove therein within which said beaded flexible member is adapted to be trained, the beads of said member being freely slidable in said groove.

2. A sliding clip for adjusting the length of a looped flexible member having a beaded cord comrising a resilient V-shaped body having divergent arms extending from the apex thereof, said apex formed with at least one opening therethrough, inwardly extending jaws on the free divergent ends of said'arms, one of said jaws being adapted to overlie the other jaw. in the open position of said clip, said jaws being formed with openings for alignment in the open position of said clip, a downwardly opening housing on one of said arms, said housing including an outer wall spaced from said one arm and an arcuate guide member in said housing within which said beaded member is adapted to slidingly engage.

3. A sliding clip for adjusting the length of a looped flexible member having a beaded cord comprising a resilient V-shaped body having divt fgent arms extending from the apex thereof, said apexformed with at least one opening therethrough,. inwardly extending jaws on the free divergent-ends of said arms, one of said jaws being adapted to overlie the other jaw in the open position of said clip, said jaws being formed with: openings for alignment in the open position ofsaidclip, a downwardly opening housing on one of said arms, said housing including an outenwall' spaced from said one arm, and an arcuate plate between said outer wall and said one arm constituting an arcuate guide member in said housing over which said beaded member is adapted to be engaged.

4. An adjustable halter comprising a neck band formed generally semi-circular having spaced ends, ,acup-like connector dependently attached to eachof said ends, a beaded cord having opposite' ends swivellably carried by said connectors to form a dependent main loop, an adjusting clip formed" as an apertured spring plate folded back over itself to provide overlappable jaws having alignable openings as parallel channels through whichthe' cord loop is adjustably threaded, a downwardly opening semi-circular channel car- 'ried by the clip, a hook having a ferrule portion through which the main loop of the cord is trained, and ardouble loop formed with the cord trained through said semi-circular channel.

5. .An' adjustable haltercomprising a neck band.

having dependent ends, a beaded cord having opposite ends secured to respective ends of said band to form a main loop dependent therefrom, an adjusting clip formed as a folded spring plate having spaced alignable apertures forming parallel channel with opposite side portions of said main loop adjustably threaded therethrough, said clip having a transverse pin extended at right angles to said channels over which the end of said main loop is trained to form a pair of free running smaller loops trained through the ferrule of a dependent hook for equalized spaced adjustment of the hook relative to the neck band, and a semi-circular open ended housing carried by the pin to form a partially enclosed arcuate raceway for the free running enclosure of the loop end, whereby one-handed adjustment of the height of an instrument supported by the hook can be made by the player thereof.

6. In an adjustable halter having a flexible beaded cord formed with a plurality of adjustable loops, a slidable clip carried by the cord comprised of a resilient V-shaped body having divergent arms extending from the apex thereof, said apex being formed with spaced openings therethrough, and inwardly extending jaws formed on the free divergent ends of said arms, one of said jaws being adapted to overlie the other jaw with the clip in a compressed open position, said jaws being formed with spaced alignable openings in said open position, said last mentioned openings being alignable with said apex openings to form parallel cord channels through the clip, a downwardly opening housing on one of said arms having a downwardly opening annular groove formed therein and adapted and arranged for free running movement of the beaded cord trained therethrough.

7. In an adjustable halter having a beaded cord formed with a plurality of loops, a slidable clip carried by the cord comprised of a resilient V- shaped body having alignable jaw openings providing parallel passages through which parallel sides of the looped cord are trained, a downwardly opening housing carried by the clip having a fixed rivet transversely mounted within said housing forming a curved support spaced from said parallel passages and dimensioned for free movement of the beaded cord trained thereover.

8. In an adjustable halter having a slidable clip carried by a flexible cord formed with a main loop and an end folded back on itself, a downwardly opening housing carried by the clip having a horizontal semi-circular top wall, spaced dependent sidewalls, a cover portion extended over said walls, and a round support member extending inwardly of the cover to provide an annular groove for the end of the loop trained for free movement therein.

NORMAN C. BATES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,632,716 Schweigert June 14, 1927 1,709,244 Abbe Apr. 16 1929 1,879,991 Pratt Sept. 27, 1932 1,896,029 Gunther Jan. 21., 1933 2,111,493 Portner Mar. 15, 1938 2,356,209 Brilhart Aug. 22, 1944 

